Bruins extend GM Peter Chiarelli four years

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2013, file phot, Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli responds to a question from a reporter during a news conference before NHL hockey practice in Boston., The Bruins signed Chiarelli, who built the team that reached the Stanley Cup Finals twice in three years, to a four-year contract extension that would keep him in Boston through the 2017-18 season. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

This is a photo of Jake Ballard of the New England Patriots NFL football team. This image reflects the New England Patriots active roster as of Thursday, June 20, 2013. (AP Photo)

This is a photo of Daniel Fells of the New England Patriots NFL football team. This image reflects the New England Patriots active roster as of Thursday, June 20, 2013. (AP Photo)

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2013, file phot, Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli responds to a question from a reporter during a news conference before NHL hockey practice in Boston., The Bruins signed Chiarelli, who built the team that reached the Stanley Cup Finals twice in three years, to a four-year contract extension that would keep him in Boston through the 2017-18 season. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

“Our challenges are now at a level that we compete for the Stanley Cup and we want to compete for the Stanley Cup every year,” Chiarelli said yesterday. “And it’s my mandate, my charge to do that. ... I am very appreciative to be here for five more years at least and I look forward to this coming season and seasons after.”

The Bruins signed Chiarelli to a four-year contract extension on Thursday that would keep him in Boston through the 2017-18 season. Charlie Jacobs, the son of owner Jeremy Jacobs, recalled the negotiations with Chiarelli to bring the then-assistant GM in Ottawa to Boston in 2006 and said, “We’ve come a long way.”

“This was a rather easy negotiation,” Jacobs said. “I think it spells a lot about the stability of our franchise and where we’ve come from.”

Chiarelli, 49, will enter his eighth season with Boston when training camp opens next month. The Bruins have qualified for the playoffs in six of his first seven years, compiling a 50-35 postseason record while winning the Stanley Cup in 2011 and returning to the finals this season.

In all, Boston is 291-187-62 under Chiarelli.

“He’s done a fantastic job as a GM since he’s been here and certainly deserves the extension,” Bruins President Cam Neely said at a news conference yesterday. “One of the things we talked about here being the Boston Bruins is, not just making the postseason but competing for Stanley Cups. We’ve been to the finals twice.”

Jacobs said the real vote of confidence came this summer, when the team signed forward Patrice Bergeron to an eight-year, $52 million contract extension and gave goaltender Tuukka Rask an eight-year deal worth about $56 million.

“We committed over $100 million in a matter of about a week just this summer to two players,” Jacobs said. “I think that that speaks volumes about the amount of trust we place in not only Peter but his hockey operations department and their projections about how these player personnel will deliver for us in the future.”

Asked what he is proudest of as the Bruins GM, Chiarelli said it was hiring Coach Claude Julien in 2007 and sticking with him – including 2010, after the team blew a 3-0 lead in the playoffs against Philadelphia. Julien’s job seemed in jeopardy again the next year when the Bruins fell behind Montreal 0-2 in the first round of the playoffs.

They went on to win it all.

“He came off of being fired twice and there were a lot of questions about him,” Chiarelli said. “So, obviously, I knew what he was like – receptive to things so he could evolve with the rest of us.”

Now they’ll have a few more years to work together to bring the Cup back to Boston. Julien was signed to an extension of undisclosed length last summer.

“Stability is really important and significant when you are delivering these messages,” Chiarelli said, adding that there has to be turnover as well to guard against complacency. “So there is stability, there’s strong leadership but you have to keep everybody on their toes, especially in this cap world.

“So you can be stable and proactive and that is what I like to think we do as a group.”

Also yesterday, the Bruins said their rookie training camp will start next week and announced the roster. Among those invited are two goaltenders who could compete for a backup spot: Malcolm Subban, the brother of Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban, and Adam Morrison. Also invited is former Boston College star Tommy Cross.